Pentecostal Research Center Annual Report Available
The Dixon Pentecostal Research Center announces the release of its 2006-2007 Annual Report. The report contains detailed information on the activities of the research center, its collections, exhibitions, outreach efforts, and operations.
According to its mission statement, “The Dixon Pentecostal Research Center collects, preserves and makes available for research Church of God, Pentecostal, and Charismatic documents, records and other media. As the official archives of the Church of God, we advance the knowledge and use of the movement’s heritage through research, teaching, publications and exhibitions.” Managed by Lee University and primarily funded by the Church of God, the center contains one of the world’s largest collections of Pentecostal materials, as well as the archives of the Church of God. In addition to serving university and seminary students, and denominational departments, scholars from around the world make use of the center’s resources.
 |
|
Bennie Triplett, here with his wife Helen, donated materials related to his ministry as an evangelist, church administrator and recording artist. |
The annual report highlights some of these resources. During the past year, the Dixon Research Center received several important collections including the Bennie Triplett materials, the Vergil Wolf papers, and the William Ford papers. Known for his extraordinary music ministry, Bennie Triplett has served the Church of God in many areas; Vergil Wolf was a long-time missionary to Guatemala; and William Ford was administrative bishop of Church of God black ministries in the 1940s and 50s.
Collecting these materials is only the first step in the work of the center. The staff arranges, describes, and catalogs these collections so users can find the information that they need. During the last year the center created finding aids to several major collections including the North Cleveland Church of God Collection, the French Arrington Papers, and the Tomlinson Family Collection.
The Dixon Pentecostal Research Center shares the history and heritage of the Church of God and Pentecostal movement through exhibitions. During 2006-2007 the staff produced several major exhibits including Achieving Excellence: 20 Years at Lee, which celebrated Dr. Paul Conn’s twentieth anniversary as President of Lee University. The research center’s current heritage exhibit, Assembling the Saints: A Century of General Assemblies, highlights the first hundred years of the Church of God General Assembly. This exhibit is currently showing on the third floor of Squires Library on the campus of Lee University, and is free and open to the public.
Readers can view a PDF version of the annual report on the homepage for the Dixon Research Center at www.cogheritage.org or they can request a printed copy by phoning (423) 614-8576.
